Effect of corticosteroids combined with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil therapy for IgA nephropathy with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease: A retrospective cohort study

Clinical characteristics, prognosis, and predictive modeling in class IV ± V lupus nephritis

Objective

The objective of this study is to compare the clinical features and survival outcomes of class IV ± V lupus nephritis (LN) patients, identify risk factors, and develop an accurate prognostic model.

Methods

This study enrolled patients diagnosed with class IV ± V LN by renal biopsy at Xijing Hospital from December 2013 to June 2023. The composite endpoint of the study was defined as a decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by more than 50%, progression to end stage renal disease, or death, whichever came first. The eGFR was calculated utilizing the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula. ESRD is defined as an eGFR less than 15ml/min/1.73m2, necessitating the commencement of chronic dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or kidney transplantation. We compared the baseline features and survival prognosis between patients with class IV ± V LN. The prognostic model was developed using machine learning algorithms and Cox regression. The model's performance was evaluated in terms of discrimination, calibration, and risk classification using the concordance index (C-index), integrated brier score (IBS), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), respectively.

Results

A total of 313 patients were enrolled for this study, including 156 class IV and 157 class IV+V LN. During the median follow-up period of 42.6 (17.0, 83.4) months, 35 (22.4%) class IV and 38 (24.2%) class IV+V LN patients experienced combined events. Class IV and class IV+V patients have similar clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, and long-term prognosis, despite class IV having a higher chronic index (CI) score (P < 0.001). Seven eligible variables (eGFR, CI, age, basophil percentage, red blood cell count, mean arterial blood pressure, and uric acid) were selected to develop the random survival forest (RSF) model. This model demonstrated the best performance with a C-index of 0.771 (0.667, 0.848) and an IBS of 0.144 (0.132, 0.154). The IDI and NRI in the testing set further confirmed that the RSF model exhibited superior risk classification and discrimination capabilities.

Conclusion

Class IV ± V LN was similar in clinical manifestations, treatment strategies, and long-term prognosis, despite differences in pathological features. The RSF model we established for class IV ± V LN patients, incorporating seven risk factors, exhibits superior survival prediction and provides more precise prognostic stratification.

Advancing Precision Medicine for Hypertensive Nephropathy: A Novel Prognostic Model Incorporating Pathological Indicators

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to assess the long-term renal prognosis of patients with hypertensive nephropathy (HN) diagnosed through renal biopsy, utilizing the random survival forest (RSF) algorithm.

METHODS

From December 2010 to December 2022, HN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy in Xijing Hospital were enrolled and randomly divided into training set and testing set at a ratio of 7∶3. The study's composite endpoint was defined as a ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), end-stage renal disease, or death. RSF and Cox regression were used to establish a renal prognosis prediction model based on the factors screened by the RSF algorithm. The Concordance index (C-index), integrated Brier score, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to evaluate discrimination, calibration, and risk classification, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 225 patients were included in this study, with 72 (32.0%) patients experiencing combined events after a median follow-up of 29.9 (16.6, 52.1) months. Six eligible variables (overall chronicity grade of renal pathology, eGFR, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hematocrit, monocyte, and stroke volume) were selected from clinical data and introduced into the RSF model. The RSF model had a higher C-index in both the training set (0.904 [95% CI: 0.842-0.938] vs. 0.831 [95% CI: 0.768-0.894], p < 0.001) and the testing set (0.893 [95% CI: 0.770-0.944] vs. 0.841 [95% CI: 0.751-0.931], p = 0.021) compared to the Cox model. NRI and IDI indicated that the RSF model outperformed the Cox model regarding risk classification.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the RSF algorithm was employed to identify the risk factors affecting the prognosis of HN patients, and a clinical prognostic RSF model was constructed to predict the adverse outcomes of HN patients based on renal pathology. Compared to the traditional Cox regression model, the RSF model offers superior performance and can provide valuable new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.

Efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide therapy for Henoch schonlein purpura nephritis in children: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety between glucocorticoids combined with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus glucocorticoids combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX) for henoch schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children.

METHODS

Databases including PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang database were searched from the inception to April 5th, 2024. Eligible studies comparing glucocorticoids combined with MMF versus glucocorticoids combined with CTX for HSPN in children were included. Data were analyzed using Review Manager Version 5.3.

RESULTS

Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 4 non-randomized studies involving 675 patients were identified. Compared with CTX therapeutic schedule, MMF therapeutic schedule had a higher complete remission (CR) within the 6 months (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.16-2.22, P = .004) and CR within the 12 months (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.00-2.97, P = .05). However, there was no significant difference between MMF and CTX therapeutic schedule concerning total remission (TR) within the 6 months (OR 1.54, 95%CI 0.82-2.92, P = .18) and TR within the 12 months (OR 2.08, 95%CI 0.86-5.01, P = .10). In addition, incidences of gastrointestinal discomfort (OR 0.33, 95%CI 0.19-0.56, P < .0001), liver function injury (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.09-0.87, P = .03), myelosuppression (OR 0.15, 95%CI 0.06-0.41, P = .0001), alopecia (OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.07-0.91, P = .03) in MMF therapeutic schedule were all lower than CTX therapeutic schedule. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 therapeutic schedules concerning infection (OR 0.90, 95%CI 0.50-1.61, P = .72), rash (OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.07-2.04, P = .26).

CONCLUSION

Glucocorticoids combined with MMF had a higher CR and lower incidence of adverse effects compared with glucocorticoids combined with CTX in the treatment of HSPN in children.

Biologics and Non-Biologics Immunosuppressive Treatments for IgA Nephropathy in Both Adults and Children

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy represents the most prevalent cause of glomerulonephritis worldwide and may lead to renal failure in a relevant number of cases in both paediatric and adult subjects. Although their pathogenesis is still largely unclear, evidence of immune abnormalities provides the background for the use of immunosuppressive drugs, such as corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and antiproliferative and alkylating agents. Unfortunately, these treatments fail to achieve a sustained remission in a significant percentage of affected patients and are burdened by significant toxicities. Recent developments of new biologics, including anti-BAFF/APRIL inhibitors and molecules targeting complement components, offered the opportunity to selectively target immune cell subsets or activation pathways, leading to more effective and safer hypothesis-driven treatments. However, studies testing new biologic agents in IgAN should also consider paediatric populations to address the unique needs of children and close the therapeutic gap between adult and paediatric care.

[Retrospective Analysis of the Effect of Uric Acid on the Prognosis of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy With Stage 3-4 Chronic Kidney Disease]

Objective

To investigate the effect of uric acid on the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

The clinical and pathological data of 263 IgAN patients who had stage 3-4 CKD and who had confrimed diagosis through renal biopsy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University between December 2008 and January 2020 were retrospectively collected. According to the levels of uric acid, the patients were divided into a hyperuricemia group (n=102) and a normal uric acid group (n=161), and the clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups were compared accordingly. With progression to end-stage renal disease or death as the endpoint event, the renal survival rate of the two groups was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method and the relationship between uric acid and the prognosis was analyzed by Cox regression and LASSO regression.

Results

Compared with the normal uric acid group, the hyperuricemia group had a significantly higher proportion of male patients and patients with a history of hypertension, a significantly higher level of blood urea nitrogen, and lower levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate and high-density lipoprotein. In terms of pathology, patients in the hyperuricemia group had significantly higher proportion of glomerulosclerosis, higher mesangial hypercellularity, and higher tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier curve showed that there was a significant difference in renal survival rate between the two groups (P<0.0001). LASSO regression showed that high uric acid was a risk factor for the prognosis of IgAN patients with stage 3-4 CKD. Further multivariate Cox analysis showed that, compared with the normal uric acid group, the hyperuricemia group had a higher risk of incurring composite outcomes (hazard ratio [HR]=1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-2.34). When uric acid was used as a continuous variable, the increase of 1 mg/dL in uric acid concentration was associated with an increased HR of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.08-1.29) for the composite outcome.

Conclusion

High uric acid is a risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN patients with stage 3-4 CKD and reducing uric acid levels may effectively improve the prognosis of high-risk IgAN patients.

[Therapeutic effect of mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis of different age groups]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the difference in the therapeutic effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or cyclophosphamide (CTX) in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) of different age groups.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 135 children with HSPN who were treated with MMF or CTX in the Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics, from October 2018 to October 2020. According to the immunosuppressant used, they were divided into two groups: MMF group and CTX group, and according to the age, each group was further divided into two subgroups: ≤12 years and >12 years, producing four groups, i.e, the ≤12 years MMF subgroup (n=30), the >12 years MMF subgroup (n=15), the ≤12 years CTX subgroup (n=71), and the >12 years CTX subgroup (n=19). All children were followed up for at least 12 months, and the above groups were compared in terms of clinical outcomes and the incidence rate of adverse reactions.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the complete response rate between the MMF group and the CTX group after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment (P>0.05). There were no significant difference in the complete response rate and the incidence rate of adverse reactions between the >12 years MMF subgroup and the ≤12 years MMF subgroup at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment (P>0.05). The >12 years CTX subgroup had a significantly lower complete response rate than the ≤12 years CTX subgroup at 6 and 12 months of treatment (P<0.05). The >12 years CTX subgroup had a significantly higher incidence rate of adverse reactions than the >12 years MMF subgroup (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy and adverse reactions of MMF are not associated with age, but the efficacy of CTX is affected by age, with a higher incidence rate of adverse reactions. CTX should be selected with caution for children with HSPN aged >12 years.

Efficacy and safety of sequential immunosuppressive treatment for severe IgA nephropathy: A retrospective study

Background: This study compared the efficacy and safety of sequential immunosuppressive therapy in patients with non-end-stage IgA nephropathy (IgAN) with Lee’s classification of IV ∼ V and provided evidence for the use of immunotherapy in patients with severe IgAN.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with Lee’s IV ∼ V non-end-stage IgA nephropathy.

Results: 436 patients were diagnosed with IgAN, and 98 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this retrospective study. Of these, 17 were in the supportive care group, 20 in the P group (prednisone-only), 35 in P + CTX group (the prednisone combined with cyclophosphamide followed by mycophenolate mofetil), and 26 in the P + MMF group (prednisone combined with mycophenolate mofetil). The four groups showed differences in the segmental glomerulosclerosis score and the proportion of patients with Lee’s grade IV (p &lt; 0.05), but no differences in other indicators. Compared with the baseline values, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) significantly decreased and serum albumin increased (p &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the groups. The estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) of the P, P + MMF, and P + CTX groups were higher than that of the supportive care group at the 6th and 24th month after treatment (all p &lt; 0.05). At the 24th month, the eGFR in the P + CTX group was higher than that in the P + MMF group (p &lt; 0.05). The effective remission rate of the P + CTX group was higher than that of the supportive care group (p &lt; 0.05). At 12 months, the effective remission rate of the P group was higher than that of the supportive care group (p &lt; 0.05). At the 24th month, there was no significant difference in the effective remission rates among the three groups (P, P + MMF, and P + CTX). Nine patients with severe IgA nephropathy reached the endpoint.

Conclusion: This study showed that immunosuppressive therapy insevere IgAN patient scan effectively reduce urinary protein, increase albumin, and protect renal function in the early stages of IgAN. P + CTX is the most commonly used, which has a high effective remission rate of urine protein and a low incidence of end-point events.